tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post7738185228396727075..comments2023-10-31T02:31:23.227+09:00Comments on Visual Anthropology of Japan - 日本映像人類学: Portrait Project - Request for AdviceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post-82534159607174935702010-01-18T17:59:02.947+09:002010-01-18T17:59:02.947+09:00Again, may thanks for the comments. I especially a...Again, may thanks for the comments. I especially appreciate the tough love supplied by "Anonymous." These are the kinds of comments I want to see - anything to help improve. "Get a real camera..." Sigh... I know. Even my cell phone seems to take a better picture than my Sanyo Exacti 7.1 Mega. A new camera (hopefully some sort of Nikon SLR) is on the top of my list as soon as the new year research funds kick in...<br /><br />A point I think I should clarify. My upcoming project will deal with a Japanese minority population and thus will be multi-sited. I agree that stopping to ask questions or fill out a survey during a shinnenkai would not be appropriate. My project will be comprised of an interview/photo shoot during which I hope to get posed portraits and some spontaneous shots as well. At that time I will plan on handing out a questionnaire to get answers to general questions (such as hobby, occupation, etc.) so as to see if there are common trends among these people. I will also schedule a second meeting where we will negotiate which photo(s) to use in the published form of the project. These are my general ideas for now...<br /><br />B&W vs. color - R.A., you bring up an interesting point. While I definitely want to emphasize the face, the cultural context is important as well. How much do I supply with text as opposed to how much I supply with the image is an issue I am wrestling with.visual gonthroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441698021838798417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post-71839881136435790092010-01-18T16:54:31.933+09:002010-01-18T16:54:31.933+09:00To be brief: B&W emphasizes the subject while ...To be brief: B&W emphasizes the subject while color often emphasizes the settings. If the the cultural elements are in the setting it is likely best to show them in color. In my experience Japanese culture makes liberal use of color as an integral component to display, and this is terribly difficult to relate in B&W. For the extreme closeups B&W works well by minimizing minute distractions.<br /><br />On the subject of biographic information, I think hobbies is a good kicking off point.R. A. Sternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09126724734988753476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post-76211096333105023562010-01-14T19:37:22.883+09:002010-01-14T19:37:22.883+09:001) It's always useful to have (relevant) backg...1) It's always useful to have (relevant) background info, but I guess there's the issue of whether the setting is suitable for getting it. Like in this case, wouldn't it have sort of ruined the mood if you had turned it into a mini interview?<br /><br />2) For this type of event, a simple question that you can ask everyone you shoot might be good ("What do you hope from this year?", etc.). More questions, and more specific ones, would of course be more informative if you're really interviewing specific people. Your own description of what's particularly noteworthy in the photo might also be good, but I don't know what that description might include for tightly-framed face shots.<br /><br />B&W makes the less than flattering skin tones, motion blur, ISO noise and poor resolution less distracting so I'd say it works for these photos at least. The b&w versions look a lot more "respectable" than the originals. <br /><br />That said, if you're going to take portraits, you should get a real camera, a fast lens and/or some lights. Seriously. The image quality of these photos is visibly bad even in the thumbnails. Something like the Panasonic GF-1 with the pancake kit lens might work for you if you must keep it small and pocketable. It shoots better video than your Sanyo too.<br /><br />Also, though you didn't ask I think you should lose the fake vignetting, or at least make it a lot less prominent (slightly darkened corners that lighten towards the centre instead of total blackness). And only use it for photos where it really adds to the framing. <br /><br />Anyway, IQ issues aside, some of the people in your photos seem like real characters and you caught some really good expressions. As far as interacting with your subjects is concerned, I think you're good to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post-36886076810833002822010-01-14T14:49:43.493+09:002010-01-14T14:49:43.493+09:00Many thanks for your comments. Actually my future ...Many thanks for your comments. Actually my future project won't involve the izakaya. I hear you about the dating profile thing, but of course I wouldn't write it up as such. Asking for certain info like occupation, hobbies, etc. might show certain trends among individuals within the group which could be interesting. <br /><br />I didn't even notice the light in the color portrait of M-san. Yes, it is distracting; I guess I was focusing more on his facial qualities. In my future shootings I will have a little more control over the setting and the background (I think).visual gonthroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00441698021838798417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544279062280496043.post-23046738086525224162010-01-14T04:40:35.930+09:002010-01-14T04:40:35.930+09:00I think you could include answers to a question su...I think you could include answers to a question such as, why they go to that particular izakaya (this is 'cultural' :)). Also, if you want to be playful, you can ask their bloodtype (a big thing in Japan) and what characteristics they would associate with it (e.g. adventurous, caring, altruist...). A close-up photo, age and hobbies would make it look a bit like a dating site/social network profile, and you may either avoid it or play with it.<br /><br />B&W would allow your readers to concentrate on the overall composition of the face, while color makes the faces more 'realistic' and highlights details (including 'noise' - although the man with the headband looks good in color, the light on the left is a bit distracting).<br /><br />Students, tourists, bloggers etc may want to capture images where people are not posing, capturing 'the life itself'. Asking for a permission and having the person to pose is a loss, and a gain too sometimes. But there's nothing you can do, people's privacy must be respected.Daivahttp://www.wonderland.cafebabel.comnoreply@blogger.com